[On Elizabeth Barrett Browning:] Her sweetness of character is even beyond her genius.

Our English people are much addicted to raising idols, and then revenging themselves on their own idolatry by knocking down and demolishing the poor bits of wood and stone that they had worshipped as gods. How many literary reputations have been so treated!

Trees and children are, of all living things, those whose growth soonest makes one feel one's age.

I have had a great misfortune; my dear old dog is dead.

I place flowers in the very first rank of simple pleasures; and I have no very good opinion of the hard worldly people who take no delight in them.

[On Elizabeth Barrett Browning:] Her sweetness of character is even beyond her genius.

To think of playing cricket for hard cash! Money and gentility would ruin any pastime under the sun.